Rob

The second part of @bobtap29's coverage from the training centre yesterday. Dan Neil was in attendance ahead of the Premier Sports Semi Final against Aberdeen. Pre-Match Context *Rangers two results away from winning the first Cup, focus fully on Saturday’s semi-final vs. Aberdeen *Venue is Hampden: Dan Neil hasn’t played there before, looking forward to the occasion. Heard is a big pitch *Aberdeen in poor form but flagged as dangerous regardless: “any team can be dangerous on the day” Hearts Performance Review *First half not good enough: lacked control, didn’t win enough duels, happy to go in 1-0 up. *Psychological shift after going 2-1 down: started playing through the thirds better *Need to replicate that composure from the first whistle, not after losing a winning position *Duels flagged as a basic that wasn’t met in the first half or opening 15 minutes of the second *Over recent weeks (including Aberdeen away) duel-winning had been a real strength *Last night’s scoreline reflected the drop-off but something that’s been discussed as a squad Midfield Role and Partnership with Nico *Role varies by shape: Sometimes plays closer to strikers further forward or as a flat two in midfield *Enjoying getting back to a box-to-box style after years as a more defensive six *Partnership with Nico still early but going well Good relationship on and off the pitch Plenty still to learn about each other’s games Leadership and Personal Journey *Vice-captain role came early in his time at Rangers, different from Sunderland where he knew everyone and had been there for a long time *Treating it as extra motivation to help those around him, not just himself *Learning different leadership styles from teammates *Tough start to the season, personal turning point was two goals against Celtic *His Dundee mistake a low point but isn’t the first time he has made a mistake, and won’t be the last. Doesn’t stop him from playing his way. *Framed as part of the ride: “the wins are up there, and the losses are down there” *Would be a “massive honour” to lead the team out at Hampden in a final, but need to ensure we do our job against Aberdeen first Saturday’s Semi-Final Mindset *Cup form resets league form: a one-off occasion where both sides have equal motivation *Need to ensure we approach the game in the right manner *Winning silverware early in the season could be a springboard for the squad *Most players in the squad don’t yet have medals; getting over that line matters *Squad togetherness and collective accountability flagged as key going into the game

@bobtap29 is at the training centre ahead of this weekends Premier Sports semi final. First up is the Manager Reflections on Last Night’s Result * Disappointed not to capitalise after taking the lead * Acknowledged being second best for long periods, particularly around either side of half time * Positive: team showed resilience and grew stronger as the game went on Injury Update * Chuckwauni picked up some knee discomfort overnight * Getting scanned this afternoon, not expected to be serious * Rest of the squad available for Saturday Selection and Squad Decisions * Multiple decisions to make across the team, not just centre-half * Ben Godfrey vs. Manny at centre-back one of several calls * Three games in the week adds extra complexity to squad management * Fernandez defended: outstanding on Saturday, last night was a collective underperformance, unfair to single him out League Cup Semi-Final vs. Aberdeen * 35,000 fans expected at Hampden * Framed as a must-deliver occasion * Aberdeen not in great form but semi-finals can be standalone levellers * Steve Robinson rated highly: good manager, made smart substitutions to navigate the last round * Acknowledged as favourites but emphasis on earning it on the pitch * Penalties will be practised given cup football, but plan to win it in the 90 mins * Player fitness for potential extra time will factor into team selection On the Occasion and Expectation * Has managed St Johnstone, Kilmarnock, and Aberdeen to semi-finals, always as underdogs * Knows the contrast between winning and losing a semi-final acutely * “Nobody puts that expectation on the team more than us” * Squad described as tight, bonded, and still evolving: winning a trophy seen as the next step, and would be a massive boost to the squad

First up for @bobtap29 is Dujon Sterling Tomorrow’s Match at Tynecastle * No fear going into the game, confident in the squad’s ability * Last visit ended in a loss after a strong first half, second half collapse * Different players, different group now, used as a learning point * Hearts four points behind * Win puts down a marker for being strong home and away * Not framing it as knocking Hearts out of the title race, just three points Squad Belief and Current Form * Eight wins and a draw in the last nine games * Belief built from the first clean sheet and first win, then kicked on from Aberdeen away * Key injuries covered well: Shanks out, Ryan and Kevin stepped in * Run of 1-0 wins felt comfortable for the team, even if tense for fans * This described as the most together squad: players socialising, going for coffees together. System and Tactical Identity * New players settled, system now working and clearly defined * Attacking setup with Manny and Makhanya providing structure with him, allowing Penrice freedom * Last season was more off-the-cuff, reactive, this season more of a plan. * Going out of Europe may be a blessing in disguise for league focus * Still a disappointment, but squad energy now fully on the league Manager Relationship and Leadership * Manager knows players individually, not a one-size-fits-all approach * Open-door policy, always checking in around the building * Seen as a leader in the squad, but leads by example on the pitch rather than words * Putting in 100%, defending for the team * Balance of man-management and tactical quality both important Contract and Future * Contract situation calm, no issues * Club and player aligned once form and stability returned * Long-term future depends on what works for both parties

💙 Today, we remember the great Walter Smith. On the fifth anniversary of his passing, we remember with immense affection one of the greatest figures in Rangers Football Club's history.